Many, many moons ago, we got our hands on an overdrive from a company we had just recently heard of, Free The Tone, called the Red Jasper. We loved that pedal, and have loved every one of their creations since, as our friendship and partnership has grown over the past 7 years. Therefore, we’re pretty excited to bring it full circle, back to where it all started, with the upcoming release of the RJ-2V Red Jasper Overdrive, back...
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The fabulous crew at Free The Tone have been supporting Pedal of the Day for years, and we’re always excited when they send us new gear to review and demo. Today is no exception, except that there are TWO new effects we’re bringing to you, instead of just one. The SG-1C Silky Groove Compressor + CC-1B Crunchy Chime Booster are both excellent additions to the beginning of any pedalboard, providing enhanced, equalization and...
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A little over three years ago, we got our hands on the first model of today’s pedal, and we loved it. The TA-1H from Free The Tone was one of the first stereo choruses we had come across, and the wide spectrum of sounds it covered put a big old smile on our face. Today, we’ve got the next generation for you: the Tri Avatar TA-2H Multi-Dimensional Chorus, which takes the building blocks from its older sibling and just makes...
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We’ve been friends with the crew over at Free The Tone for years now, and are always amazed and awestruck by the wonderful effects they continue to create. Their latest takes things up to a new level, basically creating an effects pedal not seen all too often…or ever before. The Motion Loop ML-1L Pitch Shiftable Short Looper does exactly what its title suggests, but there’s way more packed into this little enclosure...
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If you don’t know the power and prowess of having a Volume pedal in your rig by now, you should really look into it. Besides being able to cut off your signal instantly, you can do signal swells, ambient delay and reverb fades and, in most cases, silently tune without skipping a beat or unplugging anything. Now, there are many different types, sizes and build structures to volume pedals throughout the world – we’re...
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For all the pedals we’ve had the pleasure to peruse from our friends at Free The Tone, we’ve never come across a bad apple, and there’s no reason for that to change now. Their latest endeavor is a wonderfully exploratory delay unit, rivaling the Flight Time delays, but with a new, unique sound. The FF-1Y Future Factory RF Phase Modulation Delay “succeeds in creating a new modulation sound with a unique method,...
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We were recently fortunate enough to review and demo the String Slinger Overdrive from our friends at Free The Tone, and what an overdrive that was. Seeing as how they released TWO overdrives at virtually the same time, we were understandably excited to see what lay in store for us with the Fire Mist FM-1V Overdrive, a different spin on another classic amp, packed into one pedal and ready to rip. Where the String Slinger focused on...
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The folks at Free The Tone are known for their extravagant, options-laden effects pedals, many of which we’ve had the pleasure to review and demo. That said, when today’s pedal arrived in the mail, we were a bit shocked to discover that it had just THREE control knobs, and didn’t have any of the thrilling digital fun that usually accompanies their gear. In typical fashion, however, they have managed to surpass our...
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The folks over in Japan at Free The Tone don’t mess around with their effects, always taking things up a notch from where we all think they might level off, surprising and delighting us along the way. Their TA-1H Tri Avatar Multi-Dimensional Chorus pedal continues this tradition by unleashing an absolute mammoth of a chorus pedal, full of all the modern, vintage, classic and yet-undiscovered sounds you could imagine, and then a...
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Equalization effects pedals tend to get lost in the chatter, what with so many interesting noisemakers available today. They are, however, an important piece to many rigs, and today’s pedal takes it up to a new level in terms of usability and EQ options for your tone. The PA-1QG (there’s also the PA-1QB for bass) from pedal innovators Free The Tone has been specifically designed for your guitar setup, integrating the combo...
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When we had the chance to demo the original Flight Time FT-1Y Digital Delay pedal from Free The Tone early last year, we had no idea that some new features and improvements would be made so quickly, and that we’d have another chance to delve into this marvelous creation so soon. Well, as it happens, the new model is out, and has brought with it a couple of fantastic upgrades and options that every musician and studio engineer...
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The folks at Free The Tone are making some absolutely phenomenal effects pedals, and have been for some time. Today, we’re going to take a look at their latest offering, an effect genre that is as popular now as it’s ever been, and one that continues to gain traction moving forward. The Ambi Space AS-1R is a digital reverb that has a warm and analog-ish feel, while supporting digital interfacing and harnessing modern...
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Today’s pedal is really a delay to end all delays, as long as you’re not running a stereo rig, that is. The Flight Time Delay (FT-1Y) from Free The Tone looks like the Flux Capacitor and the Millennium Falcon had a love child, with it’s vast control section and digital read-out parameters. Truth is, that’s not far from the truth, as it is just about as futuristic looking and sounding a delay that’s on the...
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The folks at Free The Tone have really been putting out some incredible gear in the last few years, and today’s featured pedal is yet another in their impressive lineup. Wanting to create an overdrive that could fit onto any board comfortably, they set out to build a pedal using the finest ingredients and latest technology, and ultimately came up with the Gigs Boson Overdrive. Taking its name from a recently discovered Higgs...
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Who has $1,500 or more for a guitar pedal? Not many of us, I’m quite sure. While the Klon is a legendary boost in it’s own right, there are a lot of pedal companies making similar pedals for way, way less money. A prime example of one of these awesome pedal makers is Free The Tone, probably most known for their ridiculous Flight Time Delay, used by none other than David Gilmour. Today’s pedal, however, is the Red...
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We’re back today with the latest incarnation of the amazing Ampero Series of multi-effects units from our friends at Hotone. This latest one, the Ampero II CDCM HD Gen 2 Amp Modeler / Effects Processor, brings familiar layouts, options and connectivity together with some new innovations, upgrades and sonic improvements. If you can’t already tell from the photos, this is a complex machine, with lots to discover…but...
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We’re back after a rough week of Hurricane Helene decimating our beloved Asheville area, as well as many others in its path – there are many ways you can donate or contribute to helping the thousands and thousands of people in need, if you can help out, please do! You can also donate to help support Pedal of the Day HERE, or become a Patron on Patreon and get access to some exclusive demos, unboxings and more…thanks...
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The Verdugo Series of pedals from NUX have been some of our favorites over the years, and we’ve got our EIGHTH one for you today. The NDO-5 Ace of Tone Dual Overdrive has 2 channels, with each one harnessing the auditory glory of a classic overdriven circuit, with NUX’s special spin on it. Easy controls, lots of routing and bypass options and incredible tone are what you find here – let’s dive in and see what...
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Last year, we were honored to help with the release of the TONEX Pedal from IK Multimedia, a dazzling amp, cabinet and effects modeler unit that broke new sonic ground. Today, we’ve teamed up with our new friends at Vintage King to bring you all IK’s latest creation, the TONEX ONE Amplifier/Cab/Pedal Modeler, a smaller version of last year’s wonderful concoction. There are a TON of options, sounds and wonder trapped...
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Taking all the elements of an amplifier and squishing them down into a box that can fit onto any pedalboard is a pretty amazing feat, and I always love when a new one comes through our shop. Several years ago, we reviewed an amazing piece of gear called the Zero Hybrid Amplifier, from our pals across the pond at Thermion. Today, they’re back with a smaller, more powerful amp-in-a-pedal, the Freeway, and we can’t wait to...
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Last month, we checked out our first pedal from Shnobel Tone in quite a while, and the Ratatouille Distortion definitely didn’t disappoint. Today, we’re looking at a newer version of their flagship pedal, the Daily Driver, the first incarnation of which we saw way back in 2020. This new version, the Daily Driver Boost, combines the original with a boost circuit, enabling you to push any amp you’d like into the sweet...
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Roman Belonozhko over at Shnobel Tone has been making great demos for a long time now, and in the past couple of years, has also taken the plunge into the world of effects pedal building. His first pedal, the Daily Driver, was an original and unique drive circuit that gives you a rich sound full of harmonics and an amp-like response. Today, we’re gonna take a look at the Ratatouille Distortion, a rodent-inspired black box with a...
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We all tend to sometimes overlook pedals that don’t make SOUND, but often those are the ones that add the most to our rig. Today’s pedal is of the Expression variety, and presents a new, unique way to control the effects on your board. A kind of 2-in-1 expression and switcher, come along as we check out the Hotone Ampero II Press Expression Pedal… Ampero II Press adds a switching function on top of its expression...
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After checking out the Big Rumble Overdrive Boost and the Heavenly Lake Delay Reverb from Tone City, we were excited to see what was coming next from the TC camp. Enter today’s pedal, the Holy Aura Distortion Boost, a powerful, space-saving beast of a distortion with a little extra push if you need it. Simple and user-friendly, this unit is made to get the most out of your tone… The Tone City Holy Aura Distortion pedal...
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We loved the Germanium Fuzz pedal that Silktone Amps put out a couple years ago, and we’re excited to have their latest effect creation for you today! The overdrive+ is an original circuit with a whole range of both familiar and unique tones – from low gain always-on tonal enhancer to ripping high gain lead machine. Come along as we explore all the ins-and-outs of this beautiful amp-pushing machine, won’t ya? With a...
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The folks at Stone Deaf have never shied away from intriguing, boundary-busting effects creations, and today might be their most ambitious yet. The Rise & Shine Fuzz Octave Tremolo not only combines those three effects into one box, it changes the way you will forever hear them moving forward (in the best of ways). Big tones, bold sonic creations, unusual pairings – this pedal has go it all… Elevate your musical...
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It’s always exciting when we get to check out new pedals from companies for the first time, and we’re stoked to welcome Artisanal Effects into the mix today. Their Toneshaper Drive EQ Overdrive pedal combines the oomph of an overdrive with the frequency-sculpting of a 6-band EQ, for a well-rounded sound that can fit with ANY setup. There’s a lot of history on this one, so lets hear from the builder about how it came...
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We’re continuing to dive into the world of Tone City pedals today, with a 2-in-1 that will quench even the most snobbish shoegazer’s thirst for the ultimate ambient effect. The Heavenly Lake Delay Reverb brings two of our favorite effects into the mix, smashes them into one beautifully aqua enclosure and adds a bunch of knobs to twist and turn as we see fit. If you like either of these genres of effects a LITTLE BIT,...
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Throughout the years, I’ve been fortunate to get my hands on nearly every pedal that Chase Bliss has put out, except one…until today. Much like its rare and elusive namesake, the Condor HiFi Analog Tone Bird has eluded our grasp, but the long wait has finally come to and end. Building on the original version released in 2018, this updated unit has some new features, new design aspects and the “must-have” sound...
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Our friends over at Osiamo Music Gear have introduced us to some great pedal companies over the years, and we’ve got another one for you all today! We’re taking a look at the Tone City Big Rumble Overdrive Boost, a 2-in-1 unit that has a bunch of options and some really killer tones, as well as a cool aesthetic that will have folks asking about “that purple pedal on your board.” Let’s jump in and see what...
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The Ampero line of multi effects processors and modelers has always been a joy to review and demo, and we’re stoked to be back at it again today. The latest creation from our friends at Hotone comes in the form of the Ampero II Stage Amp Modeler / Effects Processor, the newest in this series, and I’m pretty sure the most powerful yet. It’s a true wonder how they pack all of the amps, cabs, effects, routing, parameter...
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Today’s pedal combines three effects into one enclosure, saving space on your board and giving you a wide range of sounds. The ATD Alien Tone Dragon, the latest release from our friends at Analog Alien, lets you easily meld from boost to breakup to crunch to fuzz and more. We’re excited to help bring this one to the masses, let’s dive right in! *Grab an Alien Tone Dragon from Sweetwater:...
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It’s always a special day when our friends at Beetronics release a new creation, and we’re so happy to be a partner for today’s latest release! The Nectar “Tone Sweetener” is an overdrive and fuzz in one, boasting a wide range of sounds and tones you’ll be swarming about. Little, yes – powerful, absolutely. Let’s see what all the buzz it about, shall we? Shop Beetronics pedals at...
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Last year, we were privileged to help in the fight against breast cancer by debuting the first run of effects (Fuzz, Overdrive & Delay) from Electric Love Pedals, with proceeds helping to fund cancer research. They’re back again today with another charity-driven unit, the Aquatone Overdrive, teaming up with one of the best in the biz, Brian Wampler, on this unique circuit. Let’s hear what Electric Love has to say...
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Every version of the Ampero family of Amp Modelers and Effects Processors from our friends at Hotone Audio has come our way, and we’re exctied as always to bring you the latest version today. The Ampero MINI takes everything you know and love about these units and squishes them into a small, compact enclosure, perfect for any pedalboard or tabletop rig. And since there’s no compromise in sound quality or endless IRs,...
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Taking inspiration from Analog Man’s Prince of Tone overdrive, the Harby Pedals Noble Tone is based on the same schematic to give you the same organic-sounding tube distortion. Built in the USA with high-quality components. And the best part? No waiting list. A faithful replication of the original circuit board and schematics, the Noble Tone shares the rich sound that makes both the King and Prince of Tone so desirable. Compatible...
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Last month, we continued our steak of reviewing excellent pedals from our friends at NUX, with the amazing Duotime Dual Engine Delay. Today, we’ve got another one from their impressive Verdugo Series of Stomboxes: the Queen of Tone Dual Overdrive. Bringing two different but extremely complimentary drive circuits to the table, this 2-for-1 gives you just about all the overdrive options you could need…and maybe a couple...
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Over the years, the folks at Aclam Guitars have put out some extremely specific and well-done effects pedals that have certain iconic sounds in mind. The Dr. Robert replicated the soul of the VOX UL730 am, used by the Beatles on Revolver & Sgt. Pepper; the Windmiller captured the sound of the preamp from the rare Grampian Reverberation Unit Type 636; the Cinnamon Drive gave us vintage British tube amp sounds of the 60’s and...
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The recent revival of the Maestro brand has brought a couple of great pedals our way. We recently had the chance to check out the FIVE newest pedals in their Original Collection, and today we’re heading back a bit to check out one of their earlier releases. The Fuzz-Tone FZ-M features three knobs, one switch and a ton of tone to shape and sculpt your favorite vintage and modern fuzz tones to perfection…sounds pretty fun, right??...
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We’re happy to help launch today’s pedal to the world, even though aspects of it may be familiar to many of you out there. Taking IK Multimedia’s TONEX platform and allowing you to put it into pedal form, the TONEX Pedal features three footswitches, full EQ and parameter set, state-of-the-art modeling and sound quality and much, much more. Let’s dig in and see what this unit is all about, shall we? There are...
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When a huge company like StewMac contacts you and asks if you’d like to demo some gear from them, there’s only one answer: an emphatic YES, PLEASE. Today, we’re going to check out a pedal, yes, but some other guitar-related gear as well, all of which is available on the StewMac website, and all of which can help you greatly improve your tone and unleash your creativity. Lots to get into, let’s do it!! First up,...
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A good multi-effects unit is always fun to take a look at, and when it’s focused on modulation, delay and reverb, it makes it that much better. The PLETHORA X3 TonePrint Pedalboard from TC Electronic takes its origin from the larger PLETHORA X5, slimming it down for an easier fit on your board, while still giving you the quality effects you need. We love the versatility in this unit, and can’t wait to dig in with you all...
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Pedal of the Day has been fortunate to help with the promotion of each and every iteration of the wonderful Ampero series of multi-effects units from our friends at Hotone Audio, and we’ve got the newest one for you today. Following in the footsteps of the original Ampero, Ampero One and Ampero II, the Ampero Silver Edition Amp Modeler / Effects Processor somehow builds on the previous models’ functionality, options and...
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Like a lot of you out there, we can’t get enough of a good fuzz tone, especially one that’s based around the classic Tone Bender circuit. Today’s pedal, the Minotaur Sonic Terrors Evil Eye MKIII Tone Aggravator, is based on the Sola Sound Professional MKII Tone Bender, but with some modern tweaking done under the hood. Instant amp-crushing is in the very near future – prepare for total annihilation. The Evil...
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We recently had the pleasure of reviewing and demoing the first of two new Omni pedals from out friends at Hotone Audio, the AC Acoustic Simulator, which was a blast to play, and a surprisingly great acoustic pedal. Today, we’re going to check out the second pedal in this lineup, the IR Impulse Response Cabinet Simulator. This compact-sized simulator delivers organic, precise cabinet sounds for both guitar and bass, with a...
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Sometimes during live gigs, especially for all the solo performers out there, you need to make a switch from electric to acoustic at some point, depending on what tunes you’re playing. Now, as cool as it looks to switch out guitars and impress the crowd, wouldn’t it just be easier to step on a pedal and be done with it? The Omni AC Acoustic Simulator from Hotone Audio does just that, taking a step out of your performance...
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We recently had the opportunity to check out the Distortion 1 from LunaStone Pedals, and were more than impressed with its build, layout and incredible sound quality. Following in those exact footsteps, today’s pedal from LunaStone is a different animal overall, but retains the quality that these guys are putting out in their effects. The Red Fuzz 1 gives you the feel and power of a true Marshall stack in a small box that will...
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Sometimes, a small adjustment to an effects pedal layout can make all the difference. Today’s pedal is a distortion, yes, with the usual trio of controls, but their positioning is instantly a head turner, and as you delve in, you’ll find them to be additional functional, too. The Distortion 1 from LunaStone Pedals also sounds fantastic, everything you want in a high gain rocker, so let’s check it out, shall we? The...
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Clayton Donofrio Pittsburgh, PA American Wizard Toneworks americanwizardtoneworks.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I think I was 12 or 13 when I got my first guitar, but I always wanted to play. Growing up my parents always had a great record collection (Black Sabbath, CCR, Led Zeppelin, Queen, etc.) so Rock n Roll was in my blood from the beginning. My mom in particular was very...
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We are suckers for aesthetics here at Pedal of the Day, and today’s pedal just jumps right out at you (plus it look sweet in a group of pedal, too). A collaboration between the crews at SolidGoldFX and The Tone Mob, the Model 001 Fuzz Generator is an aluminum fuzz masterpiece, a pedal that is expressive both visually and sonically, and one that’s sure to make you take a step back in wonder the moment it’s engaged....
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